Cops raid Patterson Road grow op

BARRIE - Residents of the luxury Roxborough condominium building on Collier Street can sleep easier now.
A loaded shotgun, which was kept ready to fire with the safety off, has been removed from under the bed of an alleged drug grower who lived in the building.
The shotgun, along with four other weapons and several large green bags containing marijuana plants in various stages of maturity, were exhibited to the media at Barrie police headquarters Tuesday afternoon. The three semi-automatic guns and two pump action shotguns were all legally registered to the same man.
The four other firearms were found at a Patterson Road address.
“It’s a bit alarming when officers find a shotgun, with the lock off, under a bed,” said Sgt. Patrick Brouillard of Barrie Police Service, who was a member of the team that executed three search warrants in Barrie Monday afternoon. Two other raids were conducted, one in Innisfil and the other in Hawkestone.
A 37-year-old Barrie man arrested near 200 Collier, a 45-year old Barrie man apprehended at a Barrie restaurant and a 21-year-old Innisfil man appeared in Barrie court Tuesday morning. They are facing a total of 14 charges ranging from the production of marijuana, conspiracy to commit and unsafe storage of a firearm to possession for the purpose of trafficking marijuana and possession of marijuana.
Police are still looking for at least one other person in connection with the seizures.
Brouillard said one of the trio “was known to police for drug-related issues.”
Police seized 202 marijuana plants, one-and-a-half pounds of dried and packaged marijuana and a large quantity of hydroponic equipment. The estimated value of the marijuana was about $100,000, Brouillard said.
“The plants were of different sizes,” he said. “Some were seedlings and some were up to four feet high. Harvesting was ongoing.”
Police also confiscated a BMW convertible, a Ford truck and a Dodge truck.
The investigation is continuing, Brouillard said.
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9:45 a.m.
Police seized 202 marijuana plants and one-and-a-half pounds of dried and packaged marijuana in raids yesterday.
The drugs’ estimated street value is about $100,000.
Five search warrants were executed with the assistance of the tactical support unit and intelligence units from Barrie police, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and South Simcoe Police Services.
Barrie police executed three search warrants. The first was at a grow operation at a Patterson Road commercial premise, the second at a Patterson Road business and the third at a Collier Street condo, which was identified as the residence of one of the accused.
OPP executed a warrant at a commercial building on Small Crescent in Hawkstone where another grow operation was located. Officers also seized evidence of a much larger grow-op being built at this location.
The South Simcoe Police Service executed a search warrant at a residence located on the 25th Sideroad in Innisfil. This address was identified as the residence of another accused.
Three men have been arrested and charged. A 21-year-old man from Innisfil was arrested at 25th Sideroad, a 37-year-old Barrie man was arrested at the Collier address and a 45-year-old Barrie man was arrested at a downtown restaurant.
Officers also seized four rifles from the Patterson Road business, a large quantity of hydroponic equipment and a loaded shotgun under a bed at the Collier Street residence.
Officers also seized a BMW convertible, a Ford truck and a Dodge truck.
The three men face 14 charges.
Charged are David Field, Clifford Dawson and Barrie real estate agent Aron Cadeau.
The men made a court appearance Tuesday morning. The justice of the peace ordered a non-communication order between friends. The three will be back in court Dec. 21 at 9 a.m.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and expect further arrests to be made.